It's business as usual in Spain this weekend following the international break, with round 14 of La Liga.
16th placed Real Valladolid kick-off proceedings with a must-win game against Osasuna (17th) on Friday night at the Jose Zorrilla stadium in a crunch tie between two sides hovering above the relegation zone.
On Saturday there are four matches, beginning with the 3pm kick-off between league leaders Barcelona and 8th placed Granada. This corresponding fixture finished 0-0 earlier this year. Barca are unbeaten all season and currently on a five-game winning streak. Granada have won their last two, so it could be interesting, especially as Lionel Messi is injured.
Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo kick off at 5pm. After going four games unbeaten in La Liga and drawing with Man Utd, 7th placed Sociedad were brought down to earth with a bump courtesy of a 5-1 thrashing by Real Madrid. Celta are down in sixteenth, but after an awful run of just a point from six games, they have won two out of their last four, including a sensational 0-5 hammering of Malaga.
Newly-promoted Almeria look to be on a hiding to nothing when they entertain Real Madrid at 7pm on Saturday evening, starring Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema et al.
Madrid have scored 15 goals in their last three games, but Almeria have finally remembered how to win, and have now won three on the bounce. Could they pull off an upset?
The late night fixture on Saturday features arguably the team of the season so far – Atletico Madrid. They take on 6th placed Getafe in the game of the day. Brazilian born Spaniard (international soccer-wise) Diego Costa is second only to Ronaldo in goals this season with thirteen, and is making the faithful at the Estadio Vincente Calderon forget all about Radamel Falcao. Their opponents Getafe are hanging on to sixth spot, but the indifferent form of striker Ciprian Marica needs to change if they are to have a shot.
If results go their way, Atletico could go top this weekend.
Sunday sees five games in La Liga, starting with the 11am kickoff between 10th placed Levante and Villarreal who are in fourth. Levante have been punching above their weight for the last couple of years but seem to have found their level this season, while Villarreal are once again chasing their bi-annual Champions League spot.
Rayo Vallacano entertain Espanol in a game between 18th and 12th. Rayo surprised Celta on the road last time out and could get another victory over an Espanol side that has taken just four points from their last 24. This game kicks off at 4pm.
Newcomers Elche, enjoying their first spell in La Liga for 24 years and doing well in 13th spot entertain ninth placed Valencia. This game kicks off at 6pm.
11th placed Sevilla play host to bottom club Betis in the tie of the day, as it is the hotly contested ´Derbi Sevillano` - both teams hailing from Spain’s fourth largest city - so form books go out of the window. This match kicks off at 8pm.
Finally, on Monday at 9 PM my local team Malaga welcomes the mighty Athletic Bilbao to La Rosaleda. Bernd Schuster´s team is having an awful season so far, encapsulated by their shocking 0-5 home loss against Celta last month. The team that got to the Champions League quarter finals last season is currently languishing in 14th place, and it could get a whole lot worse. They need points against 5th placed Athletic, who have Champions League aspirations of their own – but are unlikely to get any.
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